Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[montreal]

Somehow, I doubt he would have been this good had we signed him after 2 years and played him under Lefebvre.

Development is important. His progress under Bouchard the last two years has been phenomenal.

for sure as we have seen just about every prospect from Evans to Brook to Poehling to Pezzetta even, all have shown a good deal of progress over time while with Bouchard. Who can we say that about under Lefebvre over 6 years.

Sly was a horrible coach but he also had crap to develop. Bouchard would have not been able to develop Hudon, Ghetto, McCarron, DLR either.

Development is facilitating a good environment. Only 8 top 100 picks from 08-11 draft years are to be blamed for many of our problems. Don't confuse this statement with me saying Sly was a good coach. He just was not a good coach on a team that the GM had to sign players to fill vs inserting good prospects like we have at the moment.

Creating a winning culture took years to get over from the ripple effects of bad drafting and weak draft power from 08-15. Realty

Evans developed well in the NCAA as well. It's not all Bouchard. Bouchard's job is to facilitate the road and monitor the progress. Having better players to work with helps the overall strategy and I'm sure Bouchard will tell you this

This is where people get this wrong imo. Hockey coaches should make hockey players play better over time. I don't care if you have a team full of McCarron's, it's not about turning them into Cam Neely since that would never happen with the greatest development. It's about having the players improve and progress no matter where their talent level is at.

Lefebvre had some of the best players in the AHL in Terry, Hudon, yet his teams looked terrible on the ice. No structure, then you watch Bouchard's teams and it's clear as day, no matter the injuries, call ups, his teams play such an impressive structured game. They know where to be and what to do, they almost always play solid hockey in all 3 zones night after night.

 

[26Mats]

More nonsense, "make your own narrative and spew it as fact" is exactly what you have done. I haven't been fooled by anything, I know he's been bad and its because of his skating, his inability to stay on his feet, his conditioning, his slow release, etc. All issues that nothing to do with Staal, coach or his linemates, etc. The guy was a project drafted at 3 who is currently flailing at the NHL level despite getting more ice time and PP time.

Regressed, he has, he barely looks like an NHL player right now. You can make excuses after excuses but the fact is he has been horrible and should be sitting.

Both Staal and KK suck and should watch from the press box, neither are NHLers right now.

Yeah I think KK is fine as a 4c, at least.

 

[montreal]

I think people are discounting how valuable it was for Evans to be a healthy scratch for 7 games during the brutal 24 games in 42 days. Suzuki, KK had to play all 24, Evans played in 17 games over the 42 days. He had 12 days in between games during the middle of April till the last week of the month.

KK by month -

Jan - 8-1-4-5 (.63 ppg)
Feb - 12-1-3-4 (.33 ppg)
March - 12-3-4-7 (.58 ppg)
April - 17-0-4-4 (.24 ppg)
May - 7-0-0-0

Evans by month -

Jan - 8-2-0-2 (.25 ppg)
Feb - 11-0-1-1 (.09 ppg)
March - 11-0-2-2 (.18 ppg)
April - 10-0-4-4 (.4 ppg)
May - 7-1-3-4 (.57 ppg)


so what you is KK just completely falling apart after a hot start and a really good month of March he just crapped out with just 4 assists in 24 games. Evans on the other hand started off very slowly all year but after being a healthy scratch for 7 games in April, he comes back rested and hungry and goes on a tear with 6 pts in the final 11 games of the season.

Suzuki also was red hot in May after hitting a wall in the middle part of the season. Now the tough part is what do they think KK can do now that he's going to have a weeks rest, can he get back to the .58 to .63 ppg he put up in March and Jan or is he toast for the season as his confidence is shot.

I recall Evans starting slow in his Junior or Senior year and then catching fire the rest of the way, last year he started off in Laval so slowly he was a healthy scratch only to go ppg the rest of the season. So if they think Evans can be more of the .4 to .57 ppg guy then he will certainly play over KK.

 

[Ezpz]

I think people are discounting how valuable it was for Evans to be a healthy scratch for 7 games during the brutal 24 games in 42 days. Suzuki, KK had to play all 24, Evans played in 17 games over the 42 days. He had 12 days in between games during the middle of April till the last week of the month.

KK by month -

Jan - 8-1-4-5 (.63 ppg)
Feb - 12-1-3-4 (.33 ppg)
March - 12-3-4-7 (.58 ppg)
April - 17-0-4-4 (.24 ppg)
May - 7-0-0-0

Evans by month -

Jan - 8-2-0-2 (.25 ppg)
Feb - 11-0-1-1 (.09 ppg)
March - 11-0-2-2 (.18 ppg)
April - 10-0-4-4 (.4 ppg)
May - 7-1-3-4 (.57 ppg)


so what you is KK just completely falling apart after a hot start and a really good month of March he just crapped out with just 4 assists in 24 games. Evans on the other hand started off very slowly all year but after being a healthy scratch for 7 games in April, he comes back rested and hungry and goes on a tear with 6 pts in the final 11 games of the season.

Suzuki also was red hot in May after hitting a wall in the middle part of the season. Now the tough part is what do they think KK can do now that he's going to have a weeks rest, can he get back to the .58 to .63 ppg he put up in March and Jan or is he toast for the season as his confidence is shot.

I recall Evans starting slow in his Junior or Senior year and then catching fire the rest of the way, last year he started off in Laval so slowly he was a healthy scratch only to go ppg the rest of the season. So if they think Evans can be more of the .4 to .57 ppg guy then he will certainly play over KK.

KK's PPG fall correlates directly to Staal joining the team. Staal was acquired in the last week of March and started playing in the beginning of April.

 

[417]

KK's PPG fall correlates directly to Staal joining the team. Staal was acquired in the last week of March and started playing in the beginning of April.

Happened his rookie season when they acquired Nate Thompson too..

 

[26Mats]

KK's PPG fall correlates directly to Staal joining the team. Staal was acquired in the last week of March and started playing in the beginning of April.

Also correlates with Gallagher injury, and team's downfall since then.

 

[Wats]

Also correlates with Gallagher injury, and team's downfall since then.

How do you explain the Habs only having 7 wins in the previous 20 games with Gallagher in the lineup?

 

[26Mats]

How do you explain the Habs only having 7 wins in the previous 20 games with Gallagher in the lineup?

what was the exact record including OT/SO losses?

 

[GammaAway]

Felt like he was everywhere yesterday. Heard his name every minute and a half, it seemed.

 

[Deebs]

He plays his ballsack off every shift and is so effective defensively. Have to appreciate that.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

What a season for Jake Evans. He's become a bona fide NHLer. Great story!

 

[DesmondDekker]

Feels so good to have a great shutdown line. The defensive part of the game is often overlooked, but come playoffs time it wins you games. Danault was a big part of shutting down Matthews and co but so was Evans. Not bad for a 7th rounder !

Considering the Jets have more depth, I’d be confortable splitting that line knowing Evans could do just as great on his own.

 

[GammaAway]

What a season for Jake Evans. He's become a bona fide NHLer. Great story!

Saving Timmins's job

 

[Eegs]

Evans continues to get better as the stakes get higher. Love the defensive side of this game and the energy he brings. I also am starting to see more offensive upside in his game. He makes a lot of really smart plays out there. If he was to get stronger I can squint and see a middle 6 player here whereas before I was happy with and more projecting him as a 4th liner tops.

 

[Tuggy]

Beast of a game from him last night. Does everything out there.

What a story as a 7th round pick.

 

[HabsTown]

I can say I was right on that one. Since day 1, I've said (not many agreed with me at that time) that Evans should never be healthy scratch and absolutely a regular on this team. He's proving that. He's solid on the wing too if we need to play him higher in the lineup.

 

[admiralcadillac]

This guy was so good yesterday.

 

[Natey]

Feels so good to have a great shutdown line. The defensive part of the game is often overlooked, but come playoffs time it wins you games. Danault was a big part of shutting down Matthews and co but so was Evans. Not bad for a 7th rounder !

Considering the Jets have more depth, I’d be confortable splitting that line knowing Evans could do just as great on his own.

If you split them, what do you do?

You can't remove Staal, regardless how he's played because he had 2 points in Game 7 and 4 points in the series. He's legit 2nd on our team in scoring. Can't imagine Staal playing well on the wing.

You can't remove Byron or Perry.

Even though Anderson disappears constantly, you can't remove him.

Armia was good last night.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I can say I was right on that one. Since day 1, I've said (not many agreed with me at that time) that Evans should never be healthy scratch and absolutely a regular on this team. He's proving that. He's solid on the wing too if we need to play him higher in the lineup.

yeah really iimpressed with him on the wing. Great to have that versatility in your line up. Kid's a beast. I was a doubter a few years backed but man he's low key awesome. More effective than Lehkonen imo with better O awareness.

 

[GammaAway]

yeah really iimpressed with him on the wing. Great to have that versatility in your line up. Kid's a beast. I was a doubter a few years backed but man he's low key awesome. More effective than Lehkonen imo with better O awareness.

Torey Mitchell style of player imo

 

[26Mats]

You have alot of guys ready or knocking on the door. Poehling makes the team next year and you have Suzuki, Kotkaniemi and Evans. You can't keep them all.

I'd like Poehling to get 1 more year in Laval to continue to learn the defensive side of the center position at the pro level.
But, then the following year Poehling is definitely coming to the NHL anyways.

The good thing is that Evans, Poehling, Danault, and Suzuki can all play wing if need be. So, I would re-sign him if it's at the right price.

 

[Tyson]

I'd like Poehling to get 1 more year in Laval to continue to learn the defensive side of the center position at the pro level.
But, then the following year Poehling is definitely coming to the NHL anyways.

The good thing is that Evans, Poehling, Danault, and Suzuki can all play wing if need be. So, I would re-sign him if it's at the right price.

Watching Poehling in Laval this past season tells me he is ready and doesn't need another year in Laval. He was already a great skater and he found a way to improve. I disagree that he needs more time in Laval.

 

[26Mats]

Watching Poehling in Laval this past season tells me he is ready and doesn't need another year in Laval. He was already a great skater and he found a way to improve. I disagree that he needs more time in Laval.

He was totally lost at center last year in the NHL in the defensive zone. He just had no awareness of what was going on around him. When they tried him at center, he didn't last more than a couple shifts each time.

I don't care how many points he put up in Laval. Playing center at the NHL level on the defensive end is a totally different animal than what he faced in Laval. If he's ready for that great. I just don't expect him to be. We'll see how he looks at C in the preseason. No doubt they'll give him a lot of games and a long look. He's this upcoming camp's rookie to watch at forward. No doubt about that.

 

[1909]

What's great with Evans and Poehling is the fact that they can play many positions. That will be lots of flexibility to MB and DD even if the club lose Tatar, Armia, Drouin, Staal and even maybe Danault is the Summer time.

 

[Tyson]

He was totally lost at center last year in the NHL in the defensive zone. He just had no awareness of what was going on around him. When they tried him at center, he didn't last more than a couple shifts each time.

I don't care how many points he put up in Laval. Playing center at the NHL level on the defensive end is a totally different animal than what he faced in Laval. If he's ready for that great. I just don't expect him to be. We'll see how he looks at C in the preseason. No doubt they'll give him a lot of games and a long look. He's this upcoming camp's rookie to watch at forward. No doubt about that.

He may become a winger but one thing is for sure, in the cap era by age 22 you need to show you can play and Poehling is 22...its time to put up or move on.